JUST WHO IS N5XO?

What you see is pretty much what you get—and at this point, there’s no point trying to change it anyway. I’ve been fortunate in life. Most of my closest friends are the same ones I grew up with—proof that either I picked good friends early, or they’ve just learned to tolerate me exceptionally well over the years. Probably a little of both. I married my high school sweetheart, and somehow, she’s still here—so I must be doing something right. We’re coming up on 45 years of marriage, with 4 kids, 5 grandkids, and a life we wouldn’t trade for anything. Retirement has been good to us… though “retired” might not be the right word when you see how busy we stay. Amateur Radio plays a huge role in our lives—some might say too big, but those people clearly don’t understand radio. There’s a running joke in our house that pretty much sums it up: In high school, Amateur Radio was a dumb hobby her boyfriend did Later, it became a dumb hobby her husband did And now… it’s a fun hobby we both do Somewhere along the way, she crossed over—and now she’s just as active as I am (maybe more, depending on who you ask). We each have our own interests within the hobby, which actually makes it even better. Whether it’s chasing weak signals, experimenting with antennas, building stations, or just enjoying the friendships that come with the hobby, Amateur Radio has been a constant thread woven through our lives. At the end of the day, that’s really what this is all about—family, friendships, and having a whole lot of fun doing something we both enjoy. And if there happens to be a little RF in the air along the way… even better.

AMATUER RADIO - Creating life long friendships

Interests & Activities (a.k.a. How I Stay “Retired”)

I stay active in so many areas of Amateur Radio that I sometimes wonder if I didn’t just trade one full-time career for another… just without the paycheck. I currently own and operate three repeaters and help maintain a few more. That said—and here’s where the hypocrisy kicks in—I almost never use them. In fact, I’ve been known to loudly (and frequently) declare:

“REAL HAMS DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ REPEATERS!”

Yes… I realize I own three of them.

No… I don’t see the problem.

My real passion is VHF/UHF Weak Signal operating and FM Simplex. That’s where the magic happens. I founded the HAMster Weak Signal Group to help spread that passion, and I’ll gladly talk about it with anyone who stands still long enough to make eye contact. Fair warning: once the conversation starts, escape may be difficult.

I also serve as the Emergency Coordinator for the Bandera County ARES, which gives me the opportunity to help keep things organized when it actually matters—not just when we’re arguing about antennas and coax loss.

Helping others is a big part of what I enjoy. Whether it’s building a station, getting started on VHF/UHF, or figuring out why something isn’t working, I try to be as supportive as possible… right up until you mention FT8 as a “OPTION”.

Outside of radio, my wife Ruth Lewis KE5MHJ and I run a small hobby bee farm on our ranch in the Texas Hill Country—because apparently radios alone weren’t enough to keep us busy. I’m also a private pilot, though we don’t get to fly as much these days as I’d like. Turns out, antennas, bees, and grandkids have a way of filling up the calendar. At the end of the day, I’m passionate, occasionally stubborn, highly opinionated (to the dismay of some), and always ready to talk radio. You’ve been warned.

Join the HAMster Weak Signal Group

If you’ve ever wondered just how far you can really push VHF and UHF… you’re in the right place. The HAMster Weak Signal Group is all about getting beyond repeaters and discovering what your station—and your skills—are truly capable of. We focus on VHF/UHF Weak Signal operating, FM simplex, station building, antenna performance, and helping operators squeeze every last dB out of their setup. Whether you’re brand new and curious, or already chasing distant grids on 144.200, you’ll find a group of operators who are passionate, knowledgeable, and always willing to help. Fair warning: spend enough time with us, and you may never look at repeaters the same way again.

👉 Visit us here: www.144200.net

Come join the fun… and see what you’ve been missing.